Report by OrissaDiary.com correspondent; Bhubaneswar: At Tata Steel, where the primary purpose of business is to improve the quality of life of people, all community-centric initiatives are focused on empowering stakeholders at the grassroots level and ensuring for them a better tomorrow.

In Sukinda, where the steel major has presence, Tata Steel along with Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) has taken up various developmental interventions to improve the socio-economic status of the people living in the periphery villages.

More than 7000 people inhabiting 25 villages surrounding Sukinda Chromite Mine (SCM) have benefited from the initiatives taken by Tata Steel in sectors like education, health, livelihoods,and infrastructure among others.

The Company has taken up works like providing the irrigation facility, development of link roads, construction of double storied rest sheds, construction of water distribution system in villages, construction of passenger rest shelter, repair and renovation of educational institutions, rural electrification, installation of tube wells and bore wells, construction of bio-gas plants, construction of low cost toilets and digging of ponds etc.

Construction of concrete roads like Tomka-Mangalpur, water treatment project in Bhimtangar and the electrification of Ashok Jhar (a famous tourist spot in Jajpur district) only prove the legacy of CSR of Tata Steel.

To accelerate the pace of development in this area, sensitive villages were identified and consequent interventions were made by Tata Steel. Activities like promotion of agriculture extension programme, vocational training to unemployed youths and promotion of income generating activities through individual enterprise and women SHGs were taken up for sustainable livelihoods. Apart from strengthening rural infrastructure, it has provided assistance to more than 75 educational institutions in Jajpur district during the last decade.

Extending better healthcare facilities to the people living in rural and inaccessible areas, Tata Steel hosted Lifeline Express, worldís first hospital on-wheels for the second time in Jajpur. Besides, Sukinda Chromite Mine (SCM) hospital is catering to the health services requirement of all the nearby villagers.

TSRDS has been supporting 16 Self-help Groups (SHGs) in the nearby villages like Katepurtynagar, Ransol, Kakudia, Kusumundia, Kalarangi, Bhimtangar and Chingudiapal and Rugudisahi among others.

Assisted by TSRDS, they have taken up various incomes generating activities like phenyl making, poultry farming, ready-made cloth business and nursery raising among others. Apart from facilitating credit linkage for the self-help groups (SHGs), TSRDS is also facilitating the marketing of their products.

To ensure environmental sustainability, more than 2 lakh saplings have been planted in the area to increase green cover. Apart from plantation, waste land development has also been taken up on a priority basis by the company.